Published: Thursday, May 22, 2014 at 4:08 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 22, 2014 at 4:08 p.m.

How local beach towns will pay for ongoing beach nourishment projects with the federal government pulling back on funding is a persistent, nagging question in the region and at least some local beach towns are looking to state legislators in Raleigh for reprieve.

Carolina Beach Town Manager Michael Cramer said the council hopes the General Assembly will pass legislation during the short session that would allow some flexibility in disbursement of room-occupancy tax, or ROT, funds.

Specifically, Cramer said, officials would like to be able to use a small portion of the funds currently earmarked for marketing purposes on beach nourishment projects, which need to take place every few years to be effective and maintain a wide beach.

State law dictates how the proceeds from the ROT, which is an additional tax on hotel rooms and short-term rentals – currently 6 percent in New Hanover, are spent.

"All of our delegation has been very supportive in trying to work with us and trying to figure out a way to resolve the issue," Cramer said.

State Rep. Ted Davis, R-New Hanover, said recently that he's working with local beach towns in an attempt to find a legislative solution for the short session, though no bills had been filed to that end as of Thursday afternoon.

"Beach renourishment is always an important issue and it all relates to funding," Davis said. "I have been working with Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach about ways they're trying to come up with and retain additional funding for beach renourishment. That's still a moving target. That's still a work in progress.

"But I have told them that if they can come up with a mechanism that everybody is on board with that I'll be happy to move it forward."

Kure Beach Mayor Dean Lambeth had this message for lawmakers in Raleigh: "Don't forget the beaches."

"We're going to be up there in a few weeks for a town hall day and that's what we'll be talking to legislators about," he said.

Cramer said the issue has reached a critical stage.

"We know that as federal funds shrink for beach nourishment and state funds shrink for beach nourishment, we're going to be left holding the bag for funding to continue the programs," he said.

New Hanover officials aren't the only ones looking for ways to fill the looming funding hole for coastal projects.

In Brunswick County, voters earlier this month rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the county commissioners to raise the county's sales tax by a quarter of a cent – from 6.75 cents to 7 cents per dollar. The increase would have raised about $3 million a year to split between school and beach projects.

With that option now off the table, Brunswick officials are mulling what other funding avenues are open to them.

The large beach-rebuilding projects in New Hanover County and in Ocean Isle Beach, Brunswick County, led by the Army Corps of Engineers are currently funded using a mix of federal, state and local monies.

Still, on the federal front, Carolina Beach received a dose of good news this week. The U.S. House passed the 2014 Water Resources Reform and Development Act, which allows for a three-year extension of expiring beach nourishment projects – including the one on Carolina Beach, which is set to expire this year.

Further, the bill creates a process by which successful projects can be extended up to 15 years with the help of federal funds, according to U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre's office.

"Our beaches, ports, and waterways are the economic lifeblood of our coast," said McIntyre, D-N.C. "With today's (Wednesday's) passage of this bipartisan bill, we reaffirm our commitment to renourish our beaches, maintain our ports, protect the coast from floods, and keep our waterways open to navigation."

In addition to the Carolina Beach project, the bill also authorizes two new federal storm mitigation projects – the official name for beach nourishment work – for Surf City-North Topsail Beach and around New River Inlet. The authorization for the Topsail Island projects does not come with funds; Congress would still have to fork over the money.

<p>How local beach towns will pay for ongoing beach nourishment projects with the federal government pulling back on funding is a persistent, nagging question in the region and at least some local beach towns are looking to state legislators in Raleigh for reprieve. </p><p>Carolina Beach Town Manager Michael Cramer said the council hopes the General Assembly will pass legislation during the short session that would allow some flexibility in disbursement of room-occupancy tax, or ROT, funds. </p><p>Specifically, Cramer said, officials would like to be able to use a small portion of the funds currently earmarked for marketing purposes on beach nourishment projects, which need to take place every few years to be effective and maintain a wide beach.</p><p>State law dictates how the proceeds from the ROT, which is an additional tax on hotel rooms and short-term rentals – currently 6 percent in New Hanover, are spent.</p><p>"All of our delegation has been very supportive in trying to work with us and trying to figure out a way to resolve the issue," Cramer said. </p><p>State Rep. Ted Davis, R-New Hanover, said recently that he's working with local beach towns in an attempt to find a legislative solution for the short session, though no bills had been filed to that end as of Thursday afternoon. </p><p>"Beach renourishment is always an important issue and it all relates to funding," Davis said. "I have been working with Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach about ways they're trying to come up with and retain additional funding for beach renourishment. That's still a moving target. That's still a work in progress.</p><p>"But I have told them that if they can come up with a mechanism that everybody is on board with that I'll be happy to move it forward." </p><p>Kure Beach Mayor Dean Lambeth had this message for lawmakers in Raleigh: "Don't forget the beaches." </p><p>"We're going to be up there in a few weeks for a town hall day and that's what we'll be talking to legislators about," he said.</p><p>Cramer said the issue has reached a critical stage. </p><p>"We know that as federal funds shrink for beach nourishment and state funds shrink for beach nourishment, we're going to be left holding the bag for funding to continue the programs," he said.</p><p>New Hanover officials aren't the only ones looking for ways to fill the looming funding hole for coastal projects.</p><p>In Brunswick County, voters earlier this month rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the county commissioners to raise the county's sales tax by a quarter of a cent – from 6.75 cents to 7 cents per dollar. The increase would have raised about $3 million a year to split between school and beach projects.</p><p>With that option now off the table, Brunswick officials are mulling what other funding avenues are open to them.</p><p>The large beach-rebuilding projects in New Hanover County and in Ocean Isle Beach, Brunswick County, led by the Army Corps of Engineers are currently funded using a mix of federal, state and local monies.</p><p>Still, on the federal front, Carolina Beach received a dose of good news this week. The U.S. House passed the 2014 Water Resources Reform and Development Act, which allows for a three-year extension of expiring beach nourishment projects – including the one on Carolina Beach, which is set to expire this year.</p><p>Further, the bill creates a process by which successful projects can be extended up to 15 years with the help of federal funds, according to U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre's office. </p><p>"Our beaches, ports, and waterways are the economic lifeblood of our coast," said McIntyre, D-N.C. "With today's (Wednesday's) passage of this bipartisan bill, we reaffirm our commitment to renourish our beaches, maintain our ports, protect the coast from floods, and keep our waterways open to navigation." </p><p>In addition to the Carolina Beach project, the bill also authorizes two new federal storm mitigation projects – the official name for beach nourishment work – for Surf City-North Topsail Beach and around New River Inlet. The authorization for the Topsail Island projects does not come with funds; Congress would still have to fork over the money. </p><p>The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration.</p><p>Metro desk: 343-2384</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNewsMolly</p>